Folding typewriter construction



Patented Apr. 8, 1947 new UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TYPEWRITER CONSTRUCTION l George I. Mills, Springfield. Mo. v Application April 9, 1945, Serial No. 587,28#

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to the class of portable typewriters, with particular reference to typewriting machines of the folding type and in which the machine is combined with a case adapted to fold up with the machine in such a manner as to completely enclose the machine.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a combined folding typewriter and case construction in which the folding portion of the machine comprises a drop key assembly adapted .to swing into suspended position at the front of the machine and is provided with a folding case section operative in unison with the folding movements of the key assembly, a particular purpose of the invention being to provide such a relation of parts as will effect a completely closed case structure when al1 the parts are in folded condition, while also affording ample knee room or clearance below the drop portion of the machine when the same is opened up into posi.

tion for use.

,Accordingly I have devised a construction of the character indicated in which the folding section of the case, which encloses the aforesaid drop key assembly, is provided with an auxiliary closure element operative to completely close the case at the hinge joint between said folding section and the remainder of the case. ,In this connection itis a further object of the invention to provide means to facilitate and guide the movement of the parts of said drop key assembly into and out of folded relationas said combination key and folding case construction is swung into or out of its folded position,

With the foregoing general objects in view the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one form of arrangement and construction which I have devised for embodying the proposed improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

V In the drawingi -Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a folding typewriter construction of the portable type and embodying the present features of improve ment;

Figure 2 is an elevation, on a larger scale, showing the folding portion of the machine carrying the drop key assembly open and dropped into operative position at the front of the mae 2 chine, and the latter mounted on the edge of a supporting desk or table;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the parts shown in Figure 2; i

Figures 4 and 5 are vertical sectional details, representing sections taken on the lines 4-4 and 5 5, respectively, of Figure 3;

Figure 5A is a viewsimilar to Figure 5, but illustrating the same parts in folded position; and

Figure 6 is a detail section, as indicated by thel section line 6 6 in Figure 2. y

The present application relates to improvements in folding typewriter construction of the character illustrated generally in Patent No. 1,987,230, dated January 8, 1935,-in that said patent illustrates a folding type of construction which includes a folding case section combined with a drop key structure which swing together into and out of folded relation to the main body portion of the machine. The construction as illustrated in said patent, however, has been found to be defective to the extent that it fails to provide a completely enclosed construction when the parts are folded; and moreover, the folding action in the patent has not proved entirely satisfactory as regards efficiency in the folding movement for assuring proper movement of the parts of the key structure in unison with the folding action of the corresponding folding section of the case. The present invention aims to 'overcome any such drawbacks in the construction shown in said patent, by providing a supplemental closure means which serves to completely close all the hinge portions of the key-enclosing section of the case, and also providing means cof acting with the key structure to assure all proper operative movements thereof as well as guiding the same throughout all such movements.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, a conventional form of portable and folding typewriter unit is shown, comprising a main case portion I0 into which the'main body portion I2 of the typewriting machine'is built, and two folding case sections, a rear section I4 designed to fold over the rear paper carriage portion of the machine, and a front section I6 which is hingedly connected to the front of the main body l2 of the machine. The rear folding section I4, which is hinged at I8 to the main body I2 at the rear portion thereof, lis provided with the usual handle 26 as well as clasps 22 for latching the parts in folded or closed relation, in which position they are locked by suitable locking means as indicated at 24.

When the machine is opened for use and mounted on a desk 26 or the like, the case section I6, with its bank of operating keys 28, etc., swings down into suspended relation from the front of the main body portion I2 of the machine, in which position the structure is also braced and supported against the side margin of the desk top, as illustrated in Figure 2.

In the prior construction, the case section I6 was hinged' in alinement' with the pivots 30 between the drop keys 2'8 and the type operating bars 32, which has been found to be objectionable for the reason that when the folding case sectionwas swung up into closed positiomthere was: left an open or unclosed space adjacent to said hinge line of the folding section. In the presentV improved construction I provide a bracketY 34 for each of the ends of the section I6, and each of these brackets is pivoted, at 36, to the front of the main body I2 of the machine. Each bracket 3'4 includes' a flat extension 34. projecting across the hinge axis and adapted toabut against the vfront ofv said bodyv I2 of the machine, when opened for use, thereby cooperating with the abutting action of the section IIiA against the desk top for supporting and. bracing; the machine: while; in operation.

For serving as a closure. for the space which would otherwise bei left open at the front of the main body portion I2 of the machine, I provide an auxiliary' closure section 4I) which is' hinged, as at 42, to the front margirr of said main body portion andi so shaped at the margins of said section as to enclose the adjacent margins of the foldingicase section I6 when the' latter isinv its openposition as showninFigure 2, while also :spanningy or enclosing the spiace between the hinge'42 and the edges ofsaid section I6 when the' latter is in closedposition, as shown in Figure 1'.. Moreover, for maintaining a1 proper coacting relationbetween said-section I6 and theV auxiliary closure section, the corners of said auxiliary section 4!- (opposite its hinge) are provided with pins 46 operating in guide slots orr grooves 48 extending along the outer corners of the section i6; whereby the. auxiliary closure 40 and the adjacent wall of the section. I6 are maintained continuously parallel or in approximately co.. planar relation throughout.A the,y relative move-L ments of. said parts.

, Thearmsof the drop keys 28 and 0i the other operating linksv are extended through the slots of a comb bar or plate 52 whichisof angular cross-section and secured at each of its opposite ends by al fastening 53 tothe oiTset lower end 54 of an arm 55 (see Figures 5 and 5A) the-opposite or inner end of. which. is pivoted at 30.' to the framework |-2A ofv the machine (see Fig, 3)' and in substantial alinement with the pivots 30 of thekey elements. The saidoffset 54. oi eacharm 'lalso is provided with a pin 55 which rides in aninclined. slotV 58 formed in4 an. arm. SI1V ofA a bracket 62 attached to. the interior face of the casing` section Iii. The pins iii. also serve as fulcrums for the spacer bar 5I. which operates the link. connected with the spacing mechanisrn.,v Moreover, by means of the pins 5E being continuously engaged. and operatedy by the. slots 58, the comb bar 5,2- is automatically actuated in response tothe opening and closingl movements of they swingingcasesectiori` I.6for causing. said bar 52 to move alternately into the positions illustrated in Figure 5 and Figure 5A, respectively.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised a practical and eicient construction for fulfilling the desired objects of my invention.

In the open or operative position of the machine the same is firmly supported and braced by the joint abutting action of the casing I6 against the edge of the supporting table or desk, and of the extension 34 of the bracket 34 projecting above the hinge axis into abutting engagement with the front base portion of the machine.

When the folding section I6 is swung upward, through the dotted line position indicated in Figure 4, into fully closed position as represented by the dotted lines in Figure 2, the auxiliary closure element d8 is automatically operated to close the space at the front of the base of the machine and above the hinge 42,

This construction enables such an arrangementof the operating connections to be preserved as willV postion the keys etc. at the desired convenient operative level and at the same time ,provide more clearance below the keys, or for more knee room than is practicable with the prior construction.

Moreover, ity will be noted that the improved construction includes a special, viz, the comb bar 52 and its operating connections, which provide. a guiding and bracing function for the individual key arms whereby a more certain and accurate movement is assured and without any undue play or lost motion, since-the relative movement transmitted to the comb bar during the folding and unfolding actiony of the case section I6 controls the position of saidl key arms. and guides their, movement, while at the same time limiting their movement to only such extent as is requiredY for` the. free operative action or play of the various parts, asfwill be seen from a comparison of the. folded. and. unfolded positions of thev key armsV asv indicated in Figures 5 and. 5A.

While I. have. illustrated and described what l'. now regard as an entirely practical and suitable form of construction for satisfactorily embodying my proposed. improvemental desire tobe understood. as expressly reserving the right to make all such changes and modiiications as may fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention as denned by the appended. claims.

Having thusY described. my invention, what I claim is:

1.` A combinationv folding typewriter and case construction comprising, in. combination with the mainbody portion of the machine, a drop key assembly and. a folding case section enclosing said assembly mounted on said main body portion for folding movement upon hinge means above the bottomI supporting level of the machine, key-guiding, means supported on said main body portion independently of said folding section and providing` individual. guideways for the'key arms of said assembly, and connections actuated by the movement of' said folding case section for. controlling the position. of said key-guiding means during the folding and unfolding movements of. said drop key assembly.

2. A, combinationV folding typewriter and case construction comprising, in combination with the mainbody portion of the machine, adrop key assembly and a folding case section enclosing said. assembly mounted on said main body portion. for folding movement upon hinge means. above `the bottom supporting level of the machine, key guid` ing meanscomprisinga bar. mountedon said main;

body portion for movement about a. different axis from that of said folding case section and formed with individual guide slots for the key arms of said assembly, and pin and slot connections between said bar and folding case section and actuated by the movement of the latter for controlling the position of said key guiding means.

GEORGE I. MILLS.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number Number -UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Tucker Apr. 10, 1917 DeClamecy Aug. 5, 1919 HDoubler et al Jan. 8, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Swiss 1902 

